Mykonos Island
And here we are at the queen of Greece, Mykonos island!
Compared to Ibiza for the transgressive and crazy fun, it is one of the most sought after Greek islands for a holiday that attracts thousands of people every year. We find it in the Cyclades archipelago and together with Santorini island they are the only ones to have an international airport.
A noble destination, where everything has a price (and what a price) but which will captivate you from the moment you set foot there. Yes, because Mykonos is not only jet set or nightlife, it is also a wonderful island full of natural beauty, art and culture.
According to Greek mythology, its name derives from the son of Anio King of Delos and grandson of the illustrious Apollo. According to legend, it is considered the place where the Gigantomachy ended with the victory of Heracles over the Giants and it is thought that the rocks around Mykonos are precisely the bodies of the giants.
It presents itself with a typical Mediterranean area with luxuriant vegetation, large fertile areas of citrus and olive trees all surrounded by idyllic beaches bathed by a clear and transparent sea from shades of blue to emerald, turquoise and azure. Its highest peak is Profiti Elias (in Greece all the highest peaks are called that) and it extends for about ninety square kilometers for a maximum length of twenty kilometers and a width of fifteen. A small island that offers so many things to do and see where day merges with night and where you don't sleep much.
You choose a holiday in Mykonos for its nature, because it has an energy of its own, for fun and worldliness, to even be shocked at times, because it is crazy, cosmopolitan and glamorous but also because it is simply beautiful. It has the reputation of being frequented only by homosexual or LGBT people but it is absolutely not true, ok gay tourism is very present but it is also suitable for families with children or couples, on the other hand there are beaches, clubs and quiet places there are so many you just have to choose.
Let's start with its capital Mykonos Town to the west. In the seventies a mecca for the hippy movement where everything was simple and cheap, nowadays it has become the most stateless seaside town in all of Greece. Sought after by VIP and perfect strangers, she managed to transform herself and charm anyone. Behind a slope is a classic village with labyrinthine mazes that in the past were a deterrent for sea raiders, houses in blinding white lime with blue windows, streets that seem to be designed in gray and white tones, churches, super-luxury shops, cafes, trendy restaurants, traditional taverns and glimpses to immortalize in the perfect souvenir photo. In Mykonos Town there are also accommodation with a refined design, pharaonic villas with swimming pools and houses that once belonged to humble fishermen transformed into centers of art. Despite this glitzy display though, Mykonos Town still manages to have that hint of pure where anything is possible.
One of the busiest areas is undoubtedly Little Venice which you absolutely must not miss. East of Mykonos Town near the old port is a district that is very reminiscent of our Venice and that is why its name. Ancient houses overlooking the sea directly from the foundations in the water, with a thousand colors where in the 1700s wealthy captains and merchants lived with a sublime view of the Aegean. A magical place that offers one of the most beautiful sunsets to be experienced sitting in one of its elegant and delightful rooms with a cocktail in hand, watching the sun give way to darkness without saying a word but getting lost in your thoughts and in the magic of twilight. Here famous artists gather, photographers from all over the world who immortalize the ethereal beauty of Little Venice in their own way. There are also exclusive clubs where you can wait for the sunrise and gourmet restaurants where you can satisfy your senses.
The windmills of Mykonos are a “must to do it” during your stay. Also called Kato Myli we find them on the top of a hill west of the capital in the Kastro area. The identifying mark of Mykonos dates back to the 16th century and for over 400 years they were the island's major economic source as it was once one of the largest producers of grain, exporting it even outside the country. Once decommissioned, they have been preserved in the best possible way, so much so that they have become one of the most beautiful panoramic points where you can observe the sea and wait for the sunset. Of the sixteen originals, five remain and only one called Bonis can be visited, which has come back to life with a curious museum of photographs.
A regular and mythical guest of Mykonos is the pelican Petros, a true icon. You will find him (not the original but his successor), who nonchalantly wanders the alleys and who will not disdain to accept an appetizer from you.
For a moment of history, go on an excursion to the sacred Delos island where Apollo and Artemis were born. It is recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site and preserves ruins dating back to the Hellenistic period. In the Roman period it was an important religious center with a very prosperous economy. It is said that no mortal was ever able to be born or die on Delos so much so that those who were dying were transferred to the island of Rineia to preserve the sanctity of the place.
Don't let yourself be influenced by what is said and read about Mykonos, it is not a place of perdition, certainly transgressive and a little bizarre but it is still a wonderful island to be discovered.